East Iceland concerts raise mental health awareness

The East Iceland Concert Association has used its latest concert to support mental health services in the region and encourage more open discussion of mental health, mbl.is reports.

The association held its eighth benefit concert last weekend, with East Iceland musicians and singers Stebbi Jak and Kristó Jens performing songs by Bubbi Morthens. Around 250 people attended the event, which lasted more than three hours.

The concert was held in the festival hall at Eiðar because the Valaskjálf community hall in Egilsstaðir is unusable after a leak discovered this summer. The Eiðar venue is also a historic hall in the region.

“I am still concerned about the state of mental health services in East Iceland, but there has been an improvement since we held the first concert in 2017,” said Bjarni Þór Haraldsson, the association’s organiser. “I feel that it has become easier to discuss these issues, with more people speaking openly. I believe our events have helped open the discussion, and I welcome that.”

According to Haraldsson, the association has contributed around six million to mental health conferences, HSA and the work of the Pieta organisation in East Iceland in recent years.

He was pleased with attendance but said the Eiðar venue was more expensive and could accommodate fewer ticket holders than Valaskjálf. As a result, the concert will generate less profit than previous events despite strong support from East Iceland businesses, some of which have begun contacting the association proactively.

“We are in a difficult position as a community if we do not have a hall for large events where people can come together in joy and sorrow,” Haraldsson said. “At a time when people are so often alone, it is extremely important to have a place to meet. We come together to enjoy music while also discussing these difficult issues.”

The association has already begun planning next year’s concert, which will mark its tenth anniversary. Haraldsson said more would be invested in the event, adding that it would be unfortunate if no large gathering hall were available in the region.

The concerts are also intended to give young musicians an opportunity to perform alongside established artists and build confidence. This year’s performers included musicians around 20, slightly older artists pursuing advanced music studies and experienced players from East Iceland’s music scene. The audience sang along to many of the well-known songs.